Guide to formatting computer?

[Ender]

I'm a total newbie to formatting a computer. I want to re-install my Windows XP on a completely clean HDD. How do I do this?

 

[minendo]

Originally posted by: Ender
I'm a total newbie to formatting a computer. I want to re-install my Windows XP on a completely clean HDD. How do I do this?

Boot from CD. Delete partition. Partition and install.

 

[FoBoT]

just put the CD in and boot, at the beginning you can delete all the existing partitions, do that
then have it reinstall

 

Originally posted by: minendo

Originally posted by: Ender
I'm a total newbie to formatting a computer. I want to re-install my Windows XP on a completely clean HDD. How do I do this?

Boot from CD. Delete partition. Partition and install.

Its better if you dont use quick format.....

 

[aircooled]

2000/XP have added the "fdisk-ing" to the initial procedure. You will have an option to select/delete/create partitions during the initial install. Just pay close attention.

 

[Yossarian]

wash the hard drive with a solution of mild soap and warm water.

 

[geno]

Windex on the HD platters, tape a pinetree air freshener to the inside of the HD casing for pine-fresh disk access

 

[MustangSVT]

remove partition. create partition (either fat32 or ntsf) format the partitions .

here's what I recommand, COPY i386 and its directories to your 2nd partition (if you've made one). then install it from there, it'll be faster and you wont need to look for the CD later on.

copy procedure will be fast if you have smart drive enabled. good luck.

 

[TheBoyBlunder]

I'd reccomend you back up everything you want to keep first.

 

[squirrel dog]

format c:\

 

[isekii]

What's the diff between regular format and quick format ?

 

[brigden]

The difference between the regular format versus the quick format is whether or not the volume is scanned for bad sectors using the chkdsk command. Both methods remove the files from the volume.

 

[amdskip]

Originally posted by: brigden
The difference between the regular format versus the quick format is whether or not the volume is scanned for bad sectors using the chkdsk command. Both methods remove the files from the volume.

I was under the understanding that the slow format wrote zeros to your drive, could be wrong though.

 

[rutchtkim]

Originally posted by: amdskip

Originally posted by: brigden
The difference between the regular format versus the quick format is whether or not the volume is scanned for bad sectors using the chkdsk command. Both methods remove the files from the volume.

I was under the understanding that the slow format wrote zeros to your drive, could be wrong though.

I believe that in low level format, binary is written.

 

[beatmix01]

Originally posted by: rutchtkim

Originally posted by: amdskip

Originally posted by: brigden
The difference between the regular format versus the quick format is whether or not the volume is scanned for bad sectors using the chkdsk command. Both methods remove the files from the volume.

I was under the understanding that the slow format wrote zeros to your drive, could be wrong though.

I believe that in low level format, binary is written.

that is correct - zero's are only written to the drive during a low level format. using the wrong low level format utlitly not for your specific drive can damage it.ki

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Backup
Format
Install OS

 

[Howard]

IIRC quick format only removes the FAT.